Design and Construction
The Cat 23 measures 22.5 feet overall, with a 21.33-foot waterline and a 10-foot beam. It displaces 6,500 pounds and carries lead ballast. The hull uses a solid fiberglass layup, and the deck is also solid fiberglass.
A fixed stub keel and retractable centerboard give the boat a minimum draft of 2.5 feet and a maximum of 5.5 feet, a combination suited to trailering and exploring shoal waters.
The gaff cat rig carries 435 square feet of sail, with the mast rising 34 feet above the waterline. A modest sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 19.98 suggests a steady rather than explosive pace, while theoretical hull speed is near 6.2 knots.
Menger Boatworks built the design in Babylon, New York, from 2003 until the company closed in 2004. Afterward, Thompson Boatworks continued construction until 2010.
Rig and Handling
The Menger carries one large sail, keeping the rig straightforward for shorthanded sailing. Lines are led to the cockpit, and the transom-hung rudder is controlled by a wheel—a notable departure from the tiller more commonly found on boats of this size and type.
The fixed stub keel and retractable centerboard make the boat manageable both afloat and on the trailer. Raising the board eases trailing and ground-tackle work in tight creeks. Together with the plumb stem and angled transom, the rig and steering arrangement retain the traditional catboat silhouette while offering an unusual wheel-steered setup.
Accommodations
The Cat 23 sleeps three. A double V-berth fills the bow, while a straight settee runs along the port side of the main cabin.
The galley is amidships to starboard and includes a sink. An enclosed head sits just aft of it on the same side. This creates a compact but easy-to-understand arrangement of berth, galley, and head. Separating the port settee from the service spaces to starboard also helps keep the cabin orderly for a boat of this length.
The Verdict
The Menger Cat 23 thoughtfully develops a Sweisguth design from the 1930s into a trailerable, wheel-steered catboat with genuine overnight capacity. Its stub-keel-and-centerboard hull, simple gaff cat rig, and compact three-berth interior make it a practical choice for sailors who want traditional lines without giving up an enclosed head and a proper galley.
Pros
- Developed from Sweisguth’s Americat 22
- Fixed stub keel and retractable centerboard suit trailering and shoal-water sailing
- Simple gaff cat rig and wheel-steered, transom-hung rudder support shorthanded handling
- Sleeps three, with an enclosed head and an amidships galley to starboard
Cons
- Production was split between two builders, with a gap when Menger Boatworks ceased operations in 2004
